Synthesis Amplifiers: One of High End's Best Kept Secrets?
Just stopping by to share my enthusiasm for my new Synthesis A100 Titan integrated amplifier. For the past few years, I have been on the hunt for the best integrated amp I could find in my price range. I've had a Line Magnetic 508ia, a Devialet, a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400, a Boulder 866, a Vitus RI-101 mk2, and a Vitus SIA-025 mk2 in the past four or five years. I enjoyed aspects of each of these amps, some related to sonics, some to functionality, and some to build quality.
And yet, in each case, after several months, I found that I wasn't quite getting the sound I wanted--rich, three-dimensional. engaging, and dynamic without being fatiguing. Too often, I found myself picking the sonic picture apart, assessing this or that at the expense of pure musical enjoyment.
I finally decided to give up on my hunt for the "perfect" solid state solution and go back to tubes, which led me to audition the Synthesis A100 Titan, an amp that features an octet of KT66 tubes, a pair of 12AX7, a pair of 12BH7, and even an onboard DAC. I was intrigued by this amp, but found very, very little written about it in the audio forums (here and elsewhere), except the praise of a couple of folks.
I've had it about a month now, so while I cannot give a guarantee that it is my "lifetime amp" in light of my history of amp promiscuity, I can say with absolute assurance that I find this amp far more satisfying and exciting than any of the amps I've had through here over the past few years.
In short, I am just astonished by it. I had assumed that at the very least, the onboard DAC would be inferior to my Lampizator Baltic 3, which is just wonderful in every respect, but as I spend more time comparing, I am not even sure of that anymore. The onboard DAC is so good that I am now planning to try some different USB cables to see how much performance can be squeezed out of it. Very possibly, my excellent Lampi may soon be up for sale.
Just to be clear, this is no ad, and I have no affiliation whatsoever with any dealer or distributor. I just can't believe how good this amp is, and how relatively unheralded it is. So I am heralding. The Titan is a pure pleasure to listen through every night, and a magical match with my Fyne speakers. The presentation is utterly immersive, and spellbinding. I am no longer picking the sound apart. There's no need.
If you are in the market, I highly recommend an audition.
walter you are so right on the Synthesis
We have been selling Synthesis for many years the A100 titan ranks among the best sounding integrated amplifiers we have used the synthesis a 100 has a surprisingly good Dac and drives most loudspeakers really well. dave and Troy Audio Intellect NJ Synthesis dealers |
I haven't use my A100 Titan in weeks since landing a Don Sachs Kootenay KT66. To be honest, the Titan is a better amp than the Kootenay but I just like switching things around. Has anyone stepped up from an A100 Titan to something they like better, if so, what? I may let my Titan go but I'm sure I'll regret it!
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The Synthesis dealer in my area only has a few customers "upgrade" from the A100 Titan. Some have gone with the Synthesis monoblocs, and a few others have gone with a seemingly strange upgrade because they move on to some pretty low-powered custom made amps. These much lower powered amps are clones of Western Electric 124 amps that utilize original Western Electric parts. The Western Electric clones are VERY special amps, but, in many respects they are quite similar to the Synthesis amps--warm tonal balance, punchy and lively sound, a sense of large scale to the music (the sound field is enveloping and big) and a sense of weight that punches into your chest even when not playing that loudly. These clone amps are, much more expensive than the A100 (the output transformers alone cost almost as much as an A100) and are not as versatile because they are meant for use with high efficiency speakers; those trading in A100 tend to also be trading in speakers for higher efficiency custom made speakers. |
I honestly do not know which KT66 tubes they are. It’s the tubes that came with the amp. Vu stated only a handful has upgraded from the 40 to the 100, but I chose to since I’m driving the Ktemas. I hardly ever use the internal.DAC, but rather use the MDave. I really want to hear the new FCO300B. I wonder if the single ended low power would be enough to drive the power hungry Ktemas. It’s the low end that often is neglected with other amps. |
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2567072
Yes, this makes sense. The high efficient horns seem to match well with the clones. Or, people seem to think they need to go with the nostalgia W.E. with the horns. I know VU, dealer here in the Washington DC area promotes the combo. Although, I have no doubt the Titan will do just fine also with these type of speakers. I will say though, it’s worth the upgrade from the A40. I did not consider the A50 since many prefer the KT66s over the KT88s. |
